Willie Eugene Jolly

Willie Eugene Jolly (1921-2014) passed away on Father's Day at Glencroft Senior Living Center. Willie was born in Herrin, Illinois on October 22, 1921. His father was Emery E. Jolly and his mother was Martha A. Jolly (Richardson), who died at home when Willie was only 5 years old. He was then raised by his maternal grandmother, Ruth Ann Richardson, who lived in Carbondale, Illinois. Willie graduated from Carbondale High School in southern Illinois. After high school he enlisted in the US Navy, serving 6 years (1940-1946) in the South Pacific during World War II. While his ship was docked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, he met Margaret Marie Faust and the two were married on October 8, 1944. The couple had four children: Richard Jolly, Robert Jolly, Renard (Lynn) Jolly and Peggy (Robertson) Saner, 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Willie has worked as a milkman, farmer and a spray paint foreman. He retired from Salt River Project C&M. He retired as a foreman overseeing the irrigation canals and ditches for the eastern half of the Valley of the Sun. He retired to Show Low where he served as chaplain and commander of the Show Low American Legion Post 76. Willie loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. Fishing was his greatest passion and he was well known for his fishing skills in the Show Low, Arizona area. He also said he felt closer to God when he was outdoors. Now he rests in the loving arms of his Lord and Savior. There will be a graveside memorial service held on Friday, June 27, 2014 at 10:00 am at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Cave Creek, Arizona, where his ashes will be placed in the niche wall. Arrangements were handled thru Owens Livingston Mortuary-White Mountain Chapel in Show Low, Arizona.